Legislation on Manus to go to PNG cabinet

Eoin Blackwell, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

Legislation allowing the processing of asylum seekers housed on Manus Island is expected to go before Papua New Guinea's cabinet on Wednesday.

The announcement, by PNG Immigration Minister Rimbink Pato, comes after his Australian counterpart, Brendan O'Connor, paid a visit to the three-month-old, Australian-run centre on Monday.

"It will be approved by cabinet tomorrow and I should be able to sign off soon thereafter," Mr Pato told AAP on Tuesday.

"Obviously the prime minister will sign off and we shall proceed from there."

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He said the 274 asylum seekers housed at Lombrum naval base on Manus Island will be put through an interview and assessment process by the immigration department to determine their refugee status, and applicants will have the right to take disputes to a tribunal.

Mr O'Connor, who on Monday met detainees housed at the temporary tent facility at Lombrum naval base, said living conditions in the centre were not raised with him.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees, as well as the Australian Greens, have blasted conditions on the site following recent visits, with the UNHCR describing them as "unlawful".

The media has so far been prohibited from visiting the facility.

"Their (the detainees') biggest concern is when their claims will be processed," Mr O'Connor told reporters in Port Moresby on Tuesday.

"There were no specific issues raised about the conditions.

"My view is these facilities are adequate. People are fed well; people are treated well; people are accommodated in what are temporary facilities."

During his visit to the Lombrum facility, Mr O'Connor also visited a site he said had been identified for a more permanent centre.

Mr Pato said PNG was eager to live up to its "regional responsibilities".

"This is an important regional facility where PNG is exercising leadership. It's not entirely a matter for Australia," he said.

"We want to exercise these responsibilities on behalf of the region."

PNG's opposition leader, Belden Namah, is expected to bring a challenge to the Manus centre to the Supreme Court, arguing the centre is unlawful under the country's constitution.

Mr Namah's lawyers last week withdrew from proceedings questioning the legality of the centre in a lower circuit court.

Mr O'Connor would not be drawn on what an adverse ruling in PNG's highest court would do to Australia's regional processing scheme.

"I am confident though that the compact between the two countries will continue," he said.

"There is the political will to get this done, because the PNG government and the Australian government understand we need to put in a regional approach.

"This is one part of a suite of reforms required to reduce the chance of people dying at sea, and I think that's important."

Last week it was reported almost 100 Burmese asylum seekers starved to death on a boat rescued off the coast of Sri Lanka.